Catalan Parliament fails to select new Speaker in first round. Separatist candidate Roger Torrent (ERC) three votes short of required overall majority. Second round vote now, but only simple majority needed

Spanish prosecutors open money laundering investigation into €30m of proceeds from crime Sergei Magnitsky exposed. Money was spent by Russians on real estate. Case headed by Jose Grinda, famous prosecutor who brought down Russian mafia in Spain

The top five worries for Spaniards in 2017. The Catalan crisis had most effect on corruption as a national priority, and also increased worries about politicians in general. Unemployment and economy relatively flat.